GoExploreNature's Passport
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
I’m a Los Angeles-based wife, mom & adventure guide to two young boys. I seek sanity from nature and am always trying to get the boys out in it, too. We love baseball games, road trips, animal encounters and family vacations to anywhere the mood takes us.
Our Family's Travel Personality
relaxed, independent
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Yosemite National Park
Websites I Like:
10 Nature-Inspired Adventures for Families in L.A.
Looking for places to help your kids connect to nature? It might feel challenging in a crowded city like Los Angeles. But these 10 places all have something amazing to offer, so get out there and explore!
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, California
reviewed on: September 16 2009
"Top-Notch Aquarium, but Expensive"
The Aquarium of the Pacific offers little ones a great introduction to the Pacific Ocean’s magical undersea world. There are tons of things to see and touch, but the place isn’t so big that you can’t explore it all in a few hours’ time. My son isn’t a fan of touch pools, which is too bad because you can touch sharks, rays, horseshoe crabs and more. He did love Lorikeet Forest, where you can pay $2 for a cup of nectar to feed these extremely colorful (and loud) birds. There’s even an outdoor play area where more active kids can run off some steam before heading back indoors. (Just be sure to bring sunscreen!) To make exploring the indoor exhibits more interactive, we used the free Map & Visitor Guide to play “I Spy” as we searched for the creatures featured in the guide. We also watched a cute 3-D movie about an animated fish and his underwater friends. My then 3 ½ year old son didn’t enjoy the educational talk we saw at the seal and sea lion exhibit, nor the children’s program held outside in Shark Lagoon. (I think he wanted to explore more than sit and watch.) My big complaint about this Aquarium is the steep price. If I’m paying some $30 (plus parking) for my son and I to enjoy an activity, it better last a majority of the day or offer something unique that he can’t experience anywhere else. Crowds are also a concern, especially during weekends and summer months (when I usually want to go, of course). To cut your costs, seek out discounts online. And try to avoid a summer visit, when tickets are doled out on a timed entry basis.
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California
reviewed on: September 14 2009
"Explore the Children's Garden"
The Children’s Garden is a total hands-on experience teaching kids all about earth, air, fire and water. My son loved the marble jets (which shoot water into the air), the prism tunnel (a crawl-through experience with changing prism lights) and the magnetic sand (where magnets allow you to create cool shapes). Kids must be supervised while they’re here, but there are plenty of great spots for you to sit back and enjoy the experience, too. Bring a change of clothes, because if they’re doing it right, kids will get dirty and/or wet. This place is a wonderful spot for kids to discover many of nature’s gifts, but it’s not perfect. On weekdays, the gardens don’t open until noon, which seems like lunch time or close to nap time for most little ones. We opted to visit on the weekend instead, which was considerably busier. And although kids under 5 are free (yay!), adults aren’t. Unless you take advantage of all the Huntington has to offer, it’s hard to feel like that’s money well spent. (That said, my 4 year old loved both the Chinese and Japanese gardens, but boy is there a lot of walking!) Consider going on the free day (the first Thursday of each month) for a great bargain on nature fun.
1101 W. McKinley Ave
Pomona, California
reviewed on: September 16 2009
"Nature Fun at the Fair"
It may only come around once a year, but the L.A. County Fair is a great way to spend the day outdoors with the family. For nature-inspired fun, we loved the Jurassic Planet exhibit, where not only did we see (and hear) dinosaurs, but my 4 ½ year old also “dug” for fossils and created a crayon rubbing of a miniature T. Rex. There were also dinosaur-themed puzzles and toys, plus a chance to see and touch a live animal (we saw a baby gator). In the “Under the Sea” hall, my 4 ½ son loved the Kid’s Seacoast Village, which featured play areas inspired by seaside and fisherman’s villages. He discovered Lincoln Logs and also went “fishing” for magnetic fish. I’m bummed that we missed the Flower & Garden Pavilion, which features African flora and fauna. On the hillside outside the Pavilion, you can even go on a “safari” where you’ll see camels, zebras, ostriches, pythons and more! During our visit last year, we checked out farm activities in the Big Red Barn, where my son loved the newly hatched baby chicks. He even rode a mini John Deere tractor, which made his day! There’s a huge petting farm and all kinds of farm animals, from goats and sheep to rabbits and pigs. There’s plenty more to check out -- including cars and trains (if your kid loves moving vehicles like mine does!), carnival rides galore (for a fee) and tons of yummy food and treats. The fair takes place every September in Pomona where it’s hot, hot, hot! Beat the heat by starting your day early, bringing sunscreen and a hat and drinking plenty of water. Help out little legs by bringing a stroller and taking regular breaks in the shade. Crowds arrive by lunch, so get there when the gates open. Preferred parking costs a little more ($15 instead of $10) but is worth it if you’re bringing kids. By the end of the day, they’ll be plenty tired and will not want to walk any farther than required. Kids 5 and under are free, but parents cost $17 on weekends ($15 on weekdays). Check the Web site for ways to save.
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, California
reviewed on: September 15 2009
"Amazing Gorilla Encounter"
This isn’t my favorite zoo by any means, especially when compared to the likes of the San Diego Zoo just a couple of hours south. But it’s an easy way for those of us living in Los Angeles to introduce our kids to wild animals. On our most recent visit, my 4 ½ year old and I were lucky enough to have an up-close and personal encounter with a gorilla at the Campo Gorilla Reserve. A huge silverback came right up to the glass and plopped down in front of us! We were so close we could hear him chomping on his lettuce. My son even noticed that the gorilla’s fingernails look a lot like ours. Very cool! Other favorites were the giraffes, the playground at the top of the zoo, the tram ride (he loves anything with wheels, so this was a must-do) and watching the construction vehicles working on the new elephant exhibit. To cut costs, we brought our own lunch and enjoyed it at the tables next to the giraffe exhibit. We visited the day before school started and the place was empty, but it can get packed, especially during the summer. The place gets hot and there are plenty of hills and much walking to do, so avoid visits during hot weather and be patient with little legs. Watch out for wasps because they seem to be everywhere -- especially around trash cans.
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
reviewed on: September 14 2009
"Dinos, Bugs & Animals, Oh My!"
We visited the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County because I wanted to check out the Pavilion of Wings. We wound up spending almost three hours there because my 4 ½ year old loved everything about the place. I knew we were in for a treat from the moment we walked in the front door, when my son’s eyes lit up at the sight of two life-sized dinosaur skeletons. He also loved getting an up-close and personal view of all the stuffed animals in the North American and African Mammal Halls. The Hall of Birds was a blast with plenty of buttons for the little ones to push, each activating lights, sounds or motion in accompanying educational displays. If you’ve got little ones, you’ll also enjoy the Discovery Center and Insect Zoo, where live tiny critters abound. The best part is that most stations include a step stool so little ones don’t have to rely on an adult to check out what’s inside. We also watched a live animal presentation during our visit, where we met a scorpion and tarantula. My son dug for fossils and tried his hand at putting together a giant T. Rex puzzle with fossils for pieces. Kids under 5 are free, so if you haven’t been to this place yet, get going!
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, California
reviewed on: September 15 2009
"Plenty of Fossil Fun"
This is a great place to see fossils; just be sure your child knows that there aren’t any dinosaurs at the Tar Pits (head to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for those). The most plentiful creatures here are wolves and saber-toothed cats, but there’s plenty of variety to hold interest. Kids can learn how prehistoric creatures got trapped in tar, even try pulling a lever to feel just how difficult it is. The museum’s single-story, small-scale setting is very manageable for little ones and there’s also plenty of open space for parents to comfortably maneuver a stroller. There’s a small library of books about dinosaurs that our group gravitated right to and enjoyed for quite a while. (We actually had to pull them away!) Another surprise was the outdoor atrium in the center of the museum. The kids meandered along the entire path, checking out a waterfall, fish and turtles along the way. We topped off our two hour visit with a picnic at the tables just outside the museum. There’s a huge grassy area the kids loved exploring, plus the iconic creatures trapped in tar just outside the front entrance to the museum. Kids under 5 are free and adults cost just $7, so this place is a great bargain. A great morning worth of nature-inspired fun!
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, California
reviewed on: September 13 2009
"Aquarium at the Pier"
This pint-sized aquarium is operated by the environmental organization Heal the Bay and is home to some 100 species of organisms, including moray eels, octopus, sharks, rays and a variety of fish and invertebrates -- all examples of animals found just a short stroll away in the Santa Monica Bay. There are interactive exhibits, touch tanks, craft projects, films and a kid’s corner with a puppet theater and books where kids can create their own undersea adventures. The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is anything but fancy or flashy. And while I love the place’s mission, educational bent and enthusiastic staff, it is tiny and only offers about an hour of entertainment. On the plus side is the low price (kids are free!) and highly enthusiastic staff -- something you don’t usually get at other larger and more popular aquariums. Combine it with a trip to the beach for an afternoon of nearly free entertainment.
10101 Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, California
reviewed on: September 13 2009
"Wildlife Rescue Center in the City"
The STAR ECO Station is an 18,000-square-foot wildlife rescue center for illegal, abandoned and abused exotic wildlife. The only way to see the place is by taking a volunteer-led tour, which lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. Your small-group tour leads you through a series of rooms beginning with “Oceania,” which features several large tanks of ocean life such as fish and turtles; “Wildcat Sanctuary,” the room with the big cats; “Mayan Reptile Kingdom,” which is the reptile room; and “Tropical Bird Paradise,” home to a toucan, parrots and many other loud squawkers. In each room, the guide explains why the animals are there, why they weren’t great pets and what needs to be done to protect them. During the tour, guides usually take out an animal or two for your group to see up close -- we touched a jungle carpet python and a leopard gecko during our visit. This place gives even little kids an up-close and personal look at a variety of wild animals without the crowds usually encountered at zoos and other animal parks. If your guide is good and the tour group is small, your child will learn a lot about wildlife and the environment. But the Station tour lasts only an hour and you aren’t allowed to roam the premises freely once it ends, so plan accordingly.
3370 Sunset Valley Road
Moorpark, California
reviewed on: September 14 2009
"Fun on the Farm"
Underwood Family Farms is a working farm where you and your little ones can pick your own fruits and veggies or shop at the farm’s market. What makes this place so spectacular is that in addition to the pick-your-own fun, the Farm also has an animal center where kids can see chickens, cows, goats, sheep and the like. You can purchase tickets to enjoy a variety of other activities, including electronic mini tractors (which I couldn’t get my son off!), cow train, pony rides and feed for the animals. The Fall Harvest Festival runs from the end of September through the end of October, when each weekend is full of special events, including an antique tractor weekend and western heritage weekend, plus a pumpkin patch and tons of food. There is always plenty to do here and even your youngest will find something fun to do during your visit. Underwood Family Farms actually have two locations, this one and another smaller place in Somis. They recommend that you call ahead to find out how weather might affect your visit. Get out to the farm for an inexpensive and fun way to spend the day outdoors!
15601 W. Sunset Blvd
Pacific Palisades, California
reviewed on: September 18 2009
"Nature Getaway in the City"
Temescal Gateway Park includes some 140 acres of oak and sycamore canyons, a waterfall, amazing views of the ocean and city, plus access to miles of trails in both Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park. My son and I took the popular Waterfall Trail route, which is a little over 3 miles round trip and took us a couple of hours. The waterfall (which is actually more like a trickle) really isn’t the reason to come here, though. It’s all the cool scenery along the way. I spent most of the hike feeling completely removed from the Los Angeles area. The trail -- which gets quite steep in parts -- is a dirt path, so expect to be seriously dirty when it’s over. I took my son when he was 4 and wouldn’t recommend it for anyone younger than that. Lucky for me, he asked to hold my hand the whole way back down the trail! Be sure to wear good shoes (not crocs!), take it slow, let faster hikers pass and rest when you need to. Snacks work well with the little ones!The trail can get busy on weekends, so head out early before it gets too warm or too crowded. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks -- even though Temescal Park is close to the Pacific, you won’t feel much in the way of ocean breezes here. Park amenities include picnic tables and grassy areas, restrooms and a camp store. All kinds of family events are held here, including family fun nights (campfires) during the summer, educational walks and moonlight strolls. This little gem hidden right in the city is worth checking out! There is a lot where you can park for $7 (on the honor system, so bring exact change), but you can often find a spot for free on Temescal Canyon Road or Sunset Blvd.
